Modern public management: transparency, technology, and efficiency

Column

Public Management

Innovation

September 18, 2025

Modern public management: transparency, technology, and efficiency

Digital tools provide real-time data, performance indicators, and agile and inclusive communication channels

The commitment to transparency improves public management and strengthens the democratic pillars, in order to ensure that the State fulfills its primary mission: to serve the citizen with quality, efficiency, and social justice.         

 The use of information, when carried out in a clear and accessible way, allows the society to follow the application of public resources and actively participate in the decision-making process, consolidating an environment of trust and shared responsibility between government and population.

In this context, technology presents itself as a strategic ally. Digital tools enable the provision of data in real-time, the monitoring of performance indicators and the implementation of more agile and inclusive communication channels. Transparency portals, mobile applications, and integrated management systems expand access to information, strengthen social control, and stimulate citizen participation.

The digital transformation in the public sector is driven by digital technologies, process automation, and data intelligence, enabling accurate diagnoses and well-founded decisions. Through these solutions, managers can anticipate problems, plan public policies more efficiently, and offer personalized services, adapted to the specific needs of each region or segment of the population.

Initiatives like Gov.br, which brings together digital services in a single portal, or Meu INSS, which allows scheduling and tracking of social security benefits without the need for travel, represent significant advances. At the state level, the Poupatempo Digital in São Paulo and the Detran Digital in several states stand out, offering document renewal, consultations, and scheduling entirely online. At the municipal level, platforms like SP156 in São Paulo and 156 Rio in Rio de Janeiro allow citizens to register demands, request urban services, and track progress in real time.

These examples demonstrate that technology, when well applied, is not just a tool for efficiency, but also a mechanism for bringing government and society closer. The citizen is no longer a mere recipient of public policies and becomes a protagonist, monitoring and influencing how services are planned and executed.

Complementarily, new approaches have been consolidating as essential elements for the improvement of public service delivery. Among them, governmental entrepreneurship—a concept that translates the incorporation of innovative practices typical of the private sector in public management—the implementation of governmental innovation labs, the incentive for public-private partnerships, the use of agile methodologies in project development, and the adoption of collaborative models that seek greater integration between government bodies and spheres stand out.

In Brazil, the Laboratory for Innovation in Government (GNova/ENAP) stands out, which uses design thinking methodologies to develop citizen-centered solutions, already applied in areas such as health, education, and regulatory simplification.

The implementation of governmental innovation laboratories has also spread to local administrations: the São Paulo City Hall created MobiLab+, focused on urban mobility and the use of open data, which has already resulted in applications to monitor buses in real time and stimulate startups in transportation.

Agile methodologies

In the use of agile methodologies, international experiences such as Denmark’s MindLab and the United Kingdom’s Policy Lab serve as references. These models demonstrate that it is possible to rethink governmental processes in a more dynamic, collaborative way, adapted to rapid social and technological changes.

In Brazil, the Digital Government Secretariat of the Ministry of Management has adopted agile practices in the development of services within the aforementioned Gov.br, which has accelerated the digitalization and simplification of bureaucratic processes. This movement demonstrates that, even in complex and traditional structures, it is feasible to implement innovation mechanisms capable of generating concrete results for the benefit of the population.

Finally, it is essential to recognize that transparency and technology, although fundamental, are not sufficient on their own. The role of the citizen acting actively is indispensable for consolidating modern, efficient, and democratic public management. Social control, exercised through monitoring expenses, oversight of policies, and proposing improvements, strengthens the link between the State and society.

Among the mechanisms for citizen participation, public hearings and consultations stand out, which allow for open debate on proposed laws and governmental projects; public policy councils , such as those for health, education, and social assistance, which bring together government and society representatives to deliberate on priorities and evaluate results; and social movements and civil society organizations, which act in defense of rights, in monitoring policies, and in pressing for greater transparency and effectiveness in public management.

Challenges

Although it represents significant advances, the implementation of digital technologies in the public sector also brings risks that need to be mitigated: information security and cyberattacks, which can expose sensitive data of citizens and public bodies to leaks and manipulations, compromising privacy and social trust; digital exclusion, as part of the population — especially in remote areas or vulnerable groups — still faces difficulties accessing the internet; and internal cultural resistance.

To reduce these risks, some measures are indispensable: investing in information security, with robust cybersecurity protocols, advanced encryption, and independent audits; promoting digital inclusion, expanding connectivity in remote areas and offering technological training programs for the population; and adopting a cultural change management, based on continuous training, encouragement of experimentation, and valuing the server as an active agent in the innovation process.

Furthermore, the expansion of remote service, whether through digital portals, applications, or relationship centers, contributes to the democratization of access to public services, reducing regional inequalities and increasing convenience for the citizen. These innovations, when applied in a planned, inclusive, and sustainable manner, not only optimize the administrative structure but also promote greater user satisfaction, who begins to perceive the administration as an effective partner in solving their daily needs.

A public administration truly focused on the future must, therefore, combine technological innovation, ethical responsibility, and openness to social dialogue. The integration between State and society strengthens mutual trust and creates an environment where solutions are built collaboratively. In this way, it becomes possible to develop a governance model that not only delivers faster and more accessible services, but also promotes greater social justice, equity, and co-responsibility, consolidating a more participatory and inclusive democracy.

Who wrote this column

Pedro Henrique Fabri Zanini

É gestor público com mais de 15 anos de experiência na administração pública, com atuação em Gestão de Contratos e Licitações, Administração Financeira e Orçamentária, ESG, cidades inteligentes e governo digital. Possui mestrado em Administração Pública, MBA em Gestão Pública, pós-graduação em Direito Público e graduação em Administração de Empresas. É professor orientador na USP/Esalq, autor de questões de concursos públicos para bancas examinadoras, escritor e membro do CRA/SP.

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